General Mills Inc.

Why you want to work there

Top 10 ranking: No. 1 for retention, No. 2 for benefits, No. 10 for career development Hot IT initiatives at this Golden Valley, Minn.-based company, known for brands such as Yoplait and Cheerios, include the rollout of Office Communicator, a collaboration tool that features instant messaging, voice, chat and desktop-sharing technologies. IT also helped the Betty Crocker business unit launch a cause-based marketing initiative to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. IT employee-led groups include IS Diversity Champions and Women in IS. The IT Manager's Forum addresses topics such as working with global teams, project and portfolio management, and understanding generational differences. The IT Rotation Program provides specialized career development planning and assignment selection for employees hired through the company's college recruiting program. As one of the largest food manufacturers in the country, General Mills tackles issues of hunger through a multitude of efforts, including its partnership with the NBC weight-loss show The Biggest Loser to create the "Pound-for-Pound Challenge." Employees have also brought their expertise to Africa to assist in creating local nutrition programs to promote rural economic development. The IT division is the primary contributor to the General Mills World Headquarters Food Drive, donating over 25% of the total collected by the company.

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